Hibernian maintained their Champions League hopes with an exhibition performance in the 3-0 victory over Dundee at Easter Road.

First-half goals for Mixu Paatelainen and Paul Fenwick gave them a comfortable cushion going into the break.

And a deflected effort after the interval from John O'Neil sealed the points to put them in a lofty position before the winter break.

Despite an impressive first half showing, Dundee were unable to turn their large amount of possession into goals.

And they were well beaten by rampant Hibs who could have scored even more at the end.

Yet the home side endured a nervy start when keeper Nick Colgan narrowly escaped losing a dreadful early goal when he completely sliced his clearance, but no Dundee forward was able to capitalise.

Hibs then went up the park and scored with their first attack of the game in sixth minute.

Russell Latapy played an intelligent pass to Ulrik Laursen and his perfect cross was headed powerfully home by the unmarked Paatelainen.

Dundee replied three minutes later when Claudio Caniggia flashed a header wide from a Beto Carranza cross.

Dundee should have equalised in the 10th minute when Gary Smith miscontrolled the ball to let in Caniggia.

The Argentine's low shot was saved by Colgan but the rebound fell nicely for Juan Sara who slipped just as it seemed he was certain to score.

But Dundee were fighting hard to try to get back into the game and Sara wasn't far away when he nodded a Caniggia cross wide just past the half hour.

David Zitelli came close to extending the home side lead when he shot just over from the edge of the box from another quality Laursen cross.

Hibs did make it two four minutes before the break when a Russell Latapy corner fell to Zitelli and his shot was touched into the net by Canadian defender Paul Fenwick.

Dundee tried to get back into the game at the start of the second half with all their main threats coming from Caniggia and he shot just over.

He was thwarted again in the 62nd minute by a fine diving save from Colgan who held the South American's header.

Hibs finished the job midway through the second half with a slightly fortuitous goal.

A long range O'Neil shot took a wicked deflection which wrong footed-keeper Marco Roccati and trickled into the net.

Substitute striker Dirk Lehmann hit the bar in the final moments with a crashing drive as the home side piled forward.

But, with second place secured for three weeks at least, Hibs left the field to a standing ovation.